I am attaching some photos, I would like to know what you think and what you know, thank you!
I haven't disassembled the action so little can be seen, but I have noticed a few things:
- by pressing the keys slowly, they tend not to "release" easily, which does not happen with a normal press;
- the tuning is quite uniformly flat by about a quarter tone
- 4 or 5 replaced strings can be recognized, two of which are "very" new, doubles on the groups of three, which in both notes are decidedly flat compared to the oldest third.
- the pedal support is a bit detached
- The sound of a central note obtained with medium-low pressure dies after 10 seconds.
- the soundboard does not seem cracked.
I have read opinions that are quite in contrast with the negative one that follows (?!?):
In his autobiography "My Young Years", Artur Rubinstein recounts how he was contracted to play Gaveau pianos in concert. He writes of their "Stiff unresponsive action" and "Coldness of tone".
If the serial number is that, the piano is from 1924. Now we need to see the condition and the sinking of the bridge... the strings look rusty to me and I don't think they have been replaced recently. We need to see the actual load on the soundboard. Also, what was done to the hammers? Shaved?.. In short, we need to see the overall performance of the functioning, but above all of the sound. It can be considered a historical instrument. We need to evaluate whether a second restoration step is worthwhile and for what purpose. The name is fine! But it seems a bit dated to me. Try to let us hear the current sonic performance. Have it examined by an expert who can understand, through questions directed at you, what you expect from this instrument.
You possess an instrument of rare sonic and structural refinement, light years away from today's highly reliable Japanese ones; if you have the possibility, restore it, otherwise sell it! Even if we are in an unfavorable period, some connoisseur will call you immediately. It goes without saying that given its age, a restoration requires an expert restorer, not just the first one you find in a shop!, and a relatively high expense (€3000 or even €4000)—high compared to zero, but if you consider that a very mediocre upright piano can cost 5000 euros and last 10 years, you will understand how everything is relative. Congratulations
